Ukraine – France condemns the latest round of Russian airstrikes against Ukraine (19 October 2023)
France utterly condemns the Russian airstrikes of the past few days, which killed several civilians in Ukraine. In Zaporizhzhia, a missile strike against a residential building left at least five dead and four injured during the early hours of October 18. In Stepove, located in the Mykolaiv region, a missile strike killed two people and injured another during the evening of the 18th. In Kherson, at least two people were killed and four injured this morning.
By once again targeting residential buildings, Russia is attacking civilians and again flagrantly and deliberately violating international humanitarian law. It is also continuing to destroy infrastructure that is vital to global food security. These acts constitute war crimes for which Russia must be held accountable. They demonstrate Russia’s total cynicism at a time when it claims to be concerned about international humanitarian law.
As Catherine Colonna, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, has repeatedly emphasized, France will continue to work closely with its partners to provide Ukraine with the help it needs to guarantee its legitimate defense. It will also continue its support for Ukrainian courts and the International Criminal Court to combat impunity for Russia’s crimes. And France will also continue its food aid for the countries most vulnerable to food insecurity as a result of the Russian aggression.